How to Watch: “Pixels”

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Step 1: Get in the mood. If you want lighthearted, mindless Adam Sandler entertainment and have a nostalgia for ’80s video games, then Pixels is for you.

Step 2: Set the scene. The film centers on Brenner, who as a kid in the ’80s was an arcade gaming champ, able to see patterns in games like Galaga, Pac-Man and Centipede in his head and master them. Brenner’s best friend Cooper always told him he’d amount to something, but now as adults, Brenner (Sandler) is nothing more than a tech repair guy working for a Geek Squad-type company, while Cooper (Kevin James) has become president of the United States. Yeah, quite a jump there. They are still best friends, and when it looks like Earth is being invaded by aliens who are attacking in the form of the same ’80s games they grew up playing (the why and how aren’t really important), Cooper turns to Brenner for help. In order to battle the aliens, Brenner and Cooper also need to find a few other former players. One is Ludlow (Josh Gad), a former arcade whiz kid and conspiracy theorist who thinks the CIA is infiltrating his mind, and the arrogant Eddie (Peter Dinklage), the only guy to beat Brenner in an epic Donkey Kong showdown back in the day but who is now a convict. These four are joined by single mom Violet (Michelle Monaghan), who works in military intelligence and someone Brenner takes a shine to. Together, they have to play the games of their lives to defeat the invaders. You know, the Space Invaders. Get it?

Step 3: Agree… or not. Pixels is being called THE worst movie of the year, but when was the last time a Sandler movie received glowing reviews? Pixels has many, many problems. It’s trite, so very silly and completely devoid of any genuineness, to name a few. Sandler’s usual schlub with a heart of gold drags it down every time he and the wasted Monaghan do the romantic comedy thing, but Sandler has always had a keen sense of the supporting players around him, and lets them shine. Adding Gad and Dinklage to the mix is a mini stroke of genius as they both deliver hilarious performances. It is also more family-friendly than some of Sandler’s past endeavors, so gone is the 12-year-old bathroom humor. Plus, the ’80s throwbacks are perfect, between the arcade games coming to life and the soundtrack. Sandler really loves that era with movies like this and The Wedding Singer. He likes to remember being a teenager, hitting the arcade and jamming to Lover Boy. Good times.

Step 4: Love the special effects. Directed by Chris Columbus, who knows how to give movies broad strokes, Pixels also has a whole bunch of fun with the visuals. Pac-Man devouring NYC is just plain fun, but the Centipede attack sequence in London’s Hyde Park stands out, as the sky fills with mushrooms and the centipede inches down. Being one of my favorite games of yesteryear, I felt myself punching my finger on my leg in unison as Brenner and Ludlow shoot down the bugs.

Step 5: Remember Sandler doesn’t care what you think. He makes these movies to have fun with his friends, and his fans flock to see them in droves. They know full and well what to expect and welcome it. Pixels shouldn’t disappoint them.

How to Watch: ‘Trainwreck’

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Step 1: Applaud the hotter-than-hot Amy Schumer. Trainwreck puts our new favorite person squarely on the movie map, showcasing her exquisite sense of humor in a poignant and sweet romantic comedy.

Step 2: Ask “Is Amy really a trainwreck?” The title of Schumer’s big-screen debut is a little misleading, however, because Schumer’s character, also named Amy, isn’t your traditional idea of a trainwreck. You know, the kind of person who self destructs every chance they get. Sure, Amy drinks and smokes pot a lot and makes a fair amount of bad choices, but she is also really good at her job writing for a raunchy men’s magazine and never gets totally out of control. In fact, Amy’s life is exactly how she wants it to be, and she is not going off the rails.

Step 3: Get to the real point. You see, the only issue Amy has is with monogamy; she doesn’t care for it much. Her dad (Colin Quinn) put the concept “We aren’t meant to be with just one person the rest of our lives” into Amy’s head when she was a young girl, and Amy has pretty much stuck to that way of thinking for most of her adult life. One-night stands are her forte and she fully embraces the idea of kicking the guy out of bed almost immediately after sex. Her younger sister, Kim (Brie Larsen), didn’t buy into their dad’s philosophy and is now married and a mom, something that boggles Amy’s mind. Yet, everything changes when Amy is assigned to do a story on a sports medicine doctor named Aaron (Bill Hader), who is probably one of the nicest guys on the planet and who Amy has a fairly immediate connection to. She resists and tries to brush him off, but Aaron is persistent and before she knows it, Amy finds herself falling in love with him. This, too, boggles her mind.

Step 4: Embrace the formula. The rom-com mantra of “will they?” or “won’t they?” or “will Amy bolt because that’s what she always does” is ever present, but because Schumer and Hader are so good together, in many different quirky ways, they sell the staid idea. Hader, in particular, proves himself a very charming leading man, which surprises since we’re so used to him being goofy side players in movies, like the guy who manages the pool or the cop who isn’t very good at his job. Or he’s the wacky voice-over guy. But here, he complements Schumer in so many wonderful ways that we’re hoping they become the next on-screen duo, doing more movies together.

Step 5: Marvel at the non-actors. Most of the supporting players in Trainwreck are also fantastic, including Vanessa Bayer and Randall Park as Amy’s work co-horts and an unrecognizable Tilda Swinton as Amy’s self-absorbed boss. Swinton actually gets to be glam – no wigs or fake teeth but blown-out hair, makeup and a spray tan – and of course, totally nails it. And in the “who knew they could act?” category, WWE star John Cena cracks you up as one of Amy’s more steady booty calls, while basketball legend LeBron James hilariously shines, playing himself and Aaron’s best friend. James just wants Aaron to find the love he deserves, and he makes sure Amy knows it. We’re pretty sure James won’t give up his day job, but he’s gonna make more movies. Guaranteed.

Step 6: Expect more heart in a raunchy comedy. Schumer penned the script and has said it’s very personal to her, as the story also shows how Amy and her sister deal with their father, who is living in an assisted facility. Quinn does a nice job playing this offensive dad, who has never said the right thing, ever, to his girls, but still tries to love them the best way he can. There are genuine tender moments in Trainwreck, with Schumer showing some surprising acting chops. Maybe the only small issue with the film is Judd Apatow’s direction. Not that he doesn’t understand comedy or know exactly how to bring it out of his actors, but more how he never wants to cut the film up. An Apatow production runs long, as in the case with Trainwreck, but because Schumer and the gang are so fffing hysterical, it’s okay. Honestly, tears will be flowing from both laughter and poignancy. Trainwreck just works, from start to finish.

How to Podcast: ‘Minions’ Mania

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This week on the Joel and Kit Save the Movies podcast, Joel Amos and I discuss Minions, the stand-alone animated film centering on those little yellow dudes from the Despicable Me series. The movie is good fun for the kiddies, who will no doubt want to rush out and buy Minions sheets and birthday cakes, but are these side characters worthy of a whole film?

Plus, we talk about the sci-fi thriller Self/Less, in which Ben Kingsley brain is put into Ryan Reynolds body (not a bad deal). In all seriousness, it’s one of Reynolds’ better performances and a decent thrill-fest. We still could have used more Kingsley.

Follow Joel at TheMovieMensch.com!